Round 10: Kei Rong vs. Chester Li

These two players were tired, embattled, but each eager for a shot at the Top 8. With one loss apiece they’d been forced to play it out due to their tiebreakers. Kei, on Delver, had a tough fight ahead of him against Chester’s B/W Tokens list.

Game 1

Chester's B/W Tokens list hauled to the brink of the Top 8--will he make it the last inch?

Turn 1 Delver for Kei revealed Dismember on turn 2, becoming an Aberration as he played a second Island and attacked. Turn 2, Chester tried Honor of the Pure off two Plains and resolved the enchantment. Kei drew, missed his land drop, and attacked for 3 damage.

Gather the Townsfolk for Chester threatened to make the board very scary very fast, and after it resolved he flashbacked Lingering Souls, but that met Mana Leak. Chester attacked with everyone anyway, getting in 8 damage and going to 12. Chester was defenseless on 11 life, but it might not matter anymore.

Honor of the Pure resolved for Chester on turn 2, and Kei revealed Vapor Snag before attacking him to 16 with his new Aberration. Making a third land, Kei passed and Chester began jamming token spells. Lingering Souls first, which resolved to make a pair of 2/2 Spirits. Kei untapped and considered his choices, eventually deciding to pass the turn.

Chester attacked with both Spirits, getting aggressive, and then tried to flashback his Lingering Souls. Kei nodded, and Chester passed with Doom Blade mana untapped. Kei flipped the token tables on Chester with Timely Reinforcements, although he still wasn’t competing in the skies and the lifegain only gave him a slight edge. Doom Blade during the end step slew that Delver, and Chester got to work.

He attacked Kei to 12 and then played Lingering Souls and flashbacked it, with lethal fliers in the sky. Did Kei have a Ratchet Bomb? Yep! He cast it, and popped it when Chester attempted to attack. Another copy of Lingering Souls, and this time Chester passed without the flashback—he didn’t want to get Bombed again by overextending when he was so far ahead.

Vapor Snag bounced one, and then Kei untapped into Batterskull! That would make things more difficult. Chester was up to the challenge, casting Intangible Virtue and flashbacking Lingering Souls, create enough offense to race the living weapon with Kei on 9 life. He went up to 13 when he attacked, Chester triple-blocking with Spirits to try and tie up Kei’s mana while he defended himself.

Restoration Angel when Chester attacked ate one of his tokens, and while Kei had been in bad shape he’d be way ahead if that 3/4 connected. On his own turn, Kei declined to equip and simply passed the turn. Chester attacked and tried Timely Reinforcements after losing his token in a block, but Dissipate countered.

A Batterskull-powered Angel hit put Kei to 17 on Chester’s 8, and Chester mustered just Honor of the Pure on the following turn. Kei Pondered to look for the kill on the spot, but found himself just short and left Chester on 1 life.

Swinging with the Champion and the Traveler, Chester traded his one-drop for all the Soldiers and ended the turn with two Spirits and Traveler in play with the Anthem. Kei had four lands but plenty of cards, and some time thanks to those Reinforcements. Kei cast Delver and then Ratchet Bomb, passing with just Seachrome Coast untapped. Chester cast another anthem in Intangible Virtue, forcing Kei to pop the Bomb for zero.

His Traveler got in for 2, and then he played Midnight Haunting during his own turn, losing one Spirit to Vapor Snag. Sword of War and Peace got in some damage, putting Chester to 16 and making it a race. Chester’s 5 damage fell behind when Kei flipped Delver on Vapor Snag during the next turn, and the player’s began trading blows while Kei sandbagged his Snag.

Chester on 6 against Kei’s 13, he looked for a strong peel. The top of his deck was just another Midnight Haunting, and Chester extended the hand.